Childhood obesity has been on the rise in the last couple of years. In the 1970’s childhood obesity was never a concern to the public until the number increased over the years. An alarming rate of 31% of all adults have been obese since they were children and the rates of childhood obesity don’t fall too behind with an 18% of children being obese. That makes almost half of obese adults and children. A child that is obese has a 70-80% higher chance of staying obese even through their adulthood if no action is taken. Childhood obesity is not something children are in control of, these children suffer from different outcomes since they can’t look after themselves and heavily rely on someone to aid them when they need it. These numbers can be drastically altered in a positive way by educating both children and parents about healthy, nutritious foods to consume, supplying schools with better lunch and healthier vending machines with healthy choices and promoting after school activities to keep children active and away from electronics. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services there have been a notably large number of deaths due to obesity since it leads into other diseases like heart disease, type two diabetes and high blood pressure. Over weight and obese people in general Villegas 2 have a higher rate of dying from other leading causes of death such as heart attacks or cancer. Someone that is obese and overweight can also develop cardiovascular disease, respiratory failure or die from a stroke. Children can also have mental problems like suffering from depression, have low self-esteem and can exclude themselves due to other children putting them down and making them feel insecure. Medical experts say ... ... middle of paper ... ... a major concern. Having a widespread of individuals that are well educated can serve as a foundation for schools, after school programs and parents that are trying to better their Villegas 10 children’s weight to stay under control. Step by step everyone can make a difference for a child’s life. Introducing better healthier choices in vending machines, enrolling them in an after school program and limiting the amount of time they spend inside playing video games or any type of social media entertainment can really help them out. Children are very dependent of their parents being there for them and to lead them into the right direction since they don’t know any better and just mimic what they parents do. In the end childhood obesity is not something that can just vanish; it’s a process everyone needs to be a part of to accomplish a better living children deserve.
Studies have linked obesity to many things from ear infections, to pollution, to air-conditioning, to socializing with obese people. The reason Americans are obese is because of the increasing luxury available to them. Obesity is a rising problem in the United States, and with all the privileges given to its citizens, the country has become increasingly lazy. With portion sizes rising and physical activity decreasing, it is easy to see how obesity rates have skyrocketed.
Our future begins with the children of today growing up to be the adults of tomorrow. “Childhood obesity is the condition of being overweight or severely overweight which causes risks to health between the age of 2 and 19” (“Childhood Obesity”). Childhood obesity is taking a huge toll on not only the physical standpoint of the child, but also their mental stability. Childhood obesity is no longer a concern with Americans; it’s now a problem that has spiraled out of control in the world. Obesity will never be resolved one hundred percent, but it’s the little impacts that concerned citizens bring to people’s attention that make the difference. One step in the right directions is better than not taking a step at all. Along with the many health issues associated with childhood obesity, there are three major effects that seem to stand out more around the world; the food we subject our bodies to, setting a pattern for the next generation(s), and it contributes to a child not reaching his or her full potential in life.
However, there is more at stake here than what these two groups ultimately believe to be true. The percentage of obese children in the United States has risen from 5% in 1980 to almost 20% in 2012. Factors such as food choices and fitness levels are contributing greatly to this problem. Obese children eventually become obese adults and bring along with them many adverse medical conditions. These medical conditions such as diabetes are known to be severe and place a shorter life expectancy on the people it affects. Ultimately, what is at stake here is childhood obesity is on the rise in the United States due to people’s failure to eat the proper foods and as a result of children followin...
These effects are felt all the way through adulthood and even longer sometimes. One of the largest effects that are has is that greatly decreases the metabolic rate leading to remaining obese throughout their entire lifetime in some cases. A decrease in metabolic rate can cause a whirlwind of trouble for these children down the road and in the present. These children can develop hyperinsulinemia which is high levels of insulin throughout their body, hypertension which is high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia. All of these things combined can cause the hardening of the artery or clogging. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention obese children are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. The damages done by childhood obesity are not limited to the physical aspect. It can lead to “poor body image, low self-esteem, social isolation, recurrent anger, early forms of eating disorders, clinical depression, and negativity acting out in school and social settings” (Moglia). All of these things can cause such a negative impact on a child 's life that there may be repercussions later on in
Short-term health effects such as, high-cholesterol, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and poor self-esteem. According to the CDC, obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5-17 year olds, seventy percent of obese had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (Freedom DS, et.al, 2007). Obese adolescents are at risk for developing pre-diabetes. Both children and adolescents are at a greater risk for developing bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem(2015). These conditions can lead to long-term health effects as well. Obese children become obese adults with a risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, and many types of cancer. For the first time we may be raising a generation of children that we will
... reduce obesity-related morbidity. Policy makers and healthcare providers need to be aware of the seriousness of childhood obesity so that favorable changes can be made for reduction of childhood obesity. If they do not fully understand the gravity, then supportive social policies cannot be implemented to support prevention of obesity. Most complications from obesity are chronic, requiring lifelong symptom management. Obesity creates such a poor prognosis for the future generation—it is vital for everyone to recognize and acknowledge this epidemic in order to improve the health of the future population.
It causes heart diseases from high cholesterol and high blood pressure, asthma, and type 2 diabetes, and other health conditions. Obese children can have weight related health problems all the way into adulthood. This is something we need to resolve not only does it because physical pains but also psychological issues. Obese children tend to have low self-esteem and other social problems because of their weight. This is caused from the discrimination that overweight children and adults can face in their life.
As of late, childhood obesity has become an enormous problem, literally, in America. Children today spend a majority of their time in front of a television, computer, or phone screen. As stated in the article “Our Children Deserve a Healthy Start”, which was presented at the United States Conference of Mayors, childhood obesity has more than tripled in just the last thirty years. Obesity can put kids at a higher risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and many other diseases most commonly found in adults. This is an issue that can be avoided simply by exercise, a balanced diet, and educating our youth. From beginning to end of the article, the writer stresses the importance of cutting down
The United States needs to do something to change the amount of childhood obesity in the nation. If the government requires children to take classes that require physical activity, abolishes school vending machines, and teaches children about healthy eating, then the amount of children that are obese in the United States will decrease significantly. Obesity is defined as the increase of body fat over time to the point where it can impact health in a negative manner and decrease life expectancy. Since the 1980’s, obesity has increased dramatically in the United States. Children have been greatly impacted in the increase of obesity. This is a major problem as someday these obese children could possibly turn into obese adults. If the population of obese adults and children keeps increasing, than not only will our country have a lot of severely unhealthy people but the cost of health care will increase dramatically.
We need to take care of child obesity. Obesity has tripled since the 1970’s. Childhood obesity has a very big toll on people, It is a physical and emotional feeling to have obesity. Children with diabetes are teased a lot more than kids without it. There are a lot of things that contribute to being obese. It is something that people go depressed over. I know It’s a big change but it
Childhood obesity is a serious medical problem that affects children. Obesity is a medical term, commonly defined as being extremely overweight, which is only half the case. (www.wikipedia.com) Many parent’s ask if their child is obese, or at risk of becoming overweight, and they ask what to do about it. MD, Dennis Clements tells parents: “Obesity is a family event, not an individual event”.
People who are suffering from obesity have the chance of early death, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, gallbladder disease, sleep problem, some cancers and many other problems. Each of those problem are serious problems and can lead to even more serious causes, or even death. The best way to avoid these if you are already overweight is to exercise and eat better. These are not diseases and illnesses that people want to mess and take the chance of getting because they are serious diseases. In the american heart association's article on obesity it explains how being overweight can take a huge toll on your health. It can cause diabetes, heart diseases and make it hard for others to want to be around you. It is more difficult than it may seem than to just start eating healthy and eat natural foods due government subsidies on artificial sweeteners such as fructose, high fructose corn syrup and estevia. These subsidies make foods filled with fat and sugar so cheap that its hard to sell healthy food at a competitive price, So most families who are on a budget or are just making what they see as the thrifty choice buy and eat the unhealthy food digging themselves in a hole that is hard to get out of. But it is not just diet alone that will be needed to fight obesity. Exercise needs to be promoted everywhere, Today more kids spends time indoors doing a passive activity rather than physical
In the future these people will end up suffering from some sort of disease or illness. The children are not being concerned that their are short and long term consequences. “Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease”. A short term consequence of obesity is high blood pressure which can soon turn into a long term consequence. If a person continues to eat unhealthy and doesn’t balance out their food, that person will end up suffering from many other diseases. A long term consequence that can lead to death is cancer. In an article it says, “Overweight and obesity are associated with increased risk for many types of cancer, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder..”. These types of cancer can be very harmful and affect someone's life
A very good indicator for the health of the nation is the national epidemic of childhood and adolescent obesity, currently a target objective for Healthy people 2010 (DHHS). The Surgeon General reports there are 12.5 million children between toddlers and school age who are obese, a prevalence of 17%, while children at risk for obesity have a prevalence of 16% (General). A third of the child population are obese or at risk for obesity. This condition crosses all age groups, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds and is determined by the measurement of high Body Mass Index (BMI), based on weights and heights in children. Obesity is a leading contributing factor known to have an effect on the morbidity and mortality rates. This condition is one of the main reasons for the rise in hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression; chronic illnesses and diseases that are commonly associated with adults. Children and adolescent obesity continue to be a risk for health in the United States, especially when it manifests early in life. If the condition of childhood obesity is not reduced, the life expectancy for this generation of children could be less than their parents and grandparents. Currently the nation has several initiatives to combat the childhood obesity epidemic e.g. The First Lady, Michelle Obama’s “Let’s move” campaign, the FDA’s calories count, along with local municipalities changing school lunch programs, just to name a few. However, when severely obese children do not have success with non-surgical approaches some turn to bariatric surgery.
Parents are not teaching children how to eat healthy. They feed them cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and fries. Kids are not being exposed to a regular diet of health fruits and vegetables. Now some people are just naturally overweight, but being “overweight” is not the same as being “obese.” Someone who is overweight has reached a maximum weight limit for their height. When someone goes beyond this maximum limit, then they are considered “obese” (Kiess 1). Research shows that “obesity is generally defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in adipose tissue” (Kiess 1). The increase in childhood obesity today is mainly the fault of the parent because they are unable to tell their children “no” when it comes to junk food (Kiess 104). Parents are the one buying all the food that comes into the house. They are the ones buying the sugary drinks and chips. They are the ones allowing the children to “have what they want.” Because parents are not teaching their children how to eat healthy, we will continue to see childhood obesity increase. Unfortunately, overweight children will be the ones who suffer because statistics show children who are overweight are more likely to become obes...